"I don't see why not." I'd have to bring her to work with me tomorrow. I just hoped she could stay occupied and out of trouble while I dealt with everything.
My phone buzzed.
Hudson: Do you have everything you need at the house?
Angela: I didn't get to spend much time there. I had to pick up my daughter, and now we're eating at the diner.
The fridge was probably empty, so I'd need to pick a few things up for breakfast.
Hudson: I'll pick up coffee and breakfast from Sweet Dreams if you want to meet me at the shop tomorrow morning.
That meant I wouldn't have to grocery shop tonight while I was exhausted.
Angela: That would be great. Would you mind picking up something extra for Ayla? She'll be with me.
Hudson: What does she like?
Angela: Anything with sugar.
Hudson: That sounds easy enough.
I didn't have to share anything more, but I wanted to.
Angela: Ayla is excited to see the house. She's always wanted to live in one.
Hudson: I hope she likes it.
I tucked the phone away, refocusing on my daughter. She was my whole world, and I needed to get the shop reopened. She was depending on me, and I wouldn't let her down.
It felt good to provide her day-to-day needs with money I earned, but I had a dream where I bought a house and was able to pay for her college tuition so she wouldn't have any school loans. It seemed so far out of reach, but I'd started an account for her when she was little and contributed to it every month.
I'd give her a better life. I just had to stay focused on the business and not the sexy contractor.
CHAPTER 4
HUDSON
Iscrolled through the messages I'd exchanged with Angela last night. I was doing a good thing even if it felt like I was making a huge mistake getting entangled with her.
That house was a starter home for me and an investment. I figured I could rent it out one day, and it would be an additional stream of income.
I'd been slow to clear the house out and set a price for the realtor. Something was holding me back, and now I wondered if it was because I was supposed to offer the house to Angela.
She was grateful for the place to stay but worried about how much it would cost. I didn't want to make things harder for her. She was a single mom with a new business, and I didn't want her paying more than her current rent.
I stopped at Sweet Dreams bakery, saying hello to Reina, the owner.
"What can I get you?" she asked.
I scanned the glass case that was full of pastries this early in the morning. "I'm picking up breakfast for Angela and her daughter."
She made a sympathetic noise. "I heard about the water damage in her shop. How's she doing?"
I straightened, speaking to her over the case. "She's upset about having to close the shop before Christmas."
Raina's forehead creased. "Please tell her we'd like to help however we can."
"For now, we're waiting for the floors to dry out before we make any repairs."
